Hello,

My name is zack im 26 a father of 1 little 6 year old angel. I live in portland oregon all my life. Been dealing with CH for about 6 years now and only 2 1/2 years of actually knowing what CH is, right now im coming to the end of my cycle but fear so badly i wouldnt have the meds i would need in time when it came back again the past month has been honestly the worst cycle ive ever dealt with hence i lost my job and havent been able to control my self at times I just want to feel free again and fear to go to sleep most of time i wake up from a dead sleep feeling like im going insane. Thanks to this site ive finally been able to get into the neurologist and got myself oxygen Verpamil and my pill firm and injection firm of sumatriptan.  I just want to thank who ever that is in charge of this site it really has been a huge help in understanding this demon we deal with!!!!  Im still new to this whole injection thing kinda worrys me since ive never been a syringe type of guy aka i hate shots lol i hope to find others in my area or just someone to speak with from time to time about the pain im an on and off chronic and seasonal CHer if that makes since , ive come to realize that doing anything to get my mind off of it all and try not to think of it basically just find a distraction but obviously hard to most of the time. Right now im just worried about my insurance covering everything since i just lost(due to this nightmare) my job and had insurance thru my job so if anyone knows of any research studys that help pays for it all please reply with link i really would appreciate it again thank you to the people that put this all together for all of us to find one another so we know were not alone in this battle.  Until then good bye and good luck friends.

Zack

Hey Zack,

Welcome to CH.com.  You've come to the right place.  Even with six years of cluster headache under your belt, he collective knowledge about this disorder is huge around here.  If you've questions, all you need to do is ask...

Tell us what you've been prescribed for your CH.  There are some inexpensive CH abortive and preventative options...  We just need to know a little more about what you've been taking.

Check you PM InBox, I've sent you some information you might find helpful.

Take care,

V/R, Batch

Zack,

You will find plenty of good advice and encouragement from very experienced (unfortunately) CHers here. Ask the questions and they will answer.

Welcome

Stay positive

Check with your state unimployment service to find out what your options re. health insurance. There are ways for you to continue coverage until you get a new job.

thank you its great to see the responses ive gotten so far this is awesome, its hard to live life when people have no idea what this is like that we all go thru on a daily basis so far im 2 days free of headaches and im loving it. But as of this last friday i am now on Verapamil 240mg twice a day sumatriptan pills 1 mg and sumatriptan 6 mg pen injector only 2 vials for once the hell starts  (my opinion not enough once the CH comes again) Ibuprofen 800s and also the oxygen hopefully this all starts to help but we only know with time.  As for the insurance with unemployment i belive/hope i can wait a month til ive started my new job and that will start up my insurance again if not i will be going to the local unemployment office to try and start that process.

again thank you all, zack

Please tell us about you doctor's training treating headache. The mix of meds and dosing makes me think that he doesn't have the skill to treat complex headache problems.

Explore and see if you can find a headache specialist.
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LOCATING HEADACHE SPECIALIST

1. Yellow Pages phone book: look for "Headache Clinics" in the M.D. section and look under "neurologist" where some docs will list speciality areas of practice.

2.  Call your hospital/medical center. They often have an office to assist in finding a physician. You may have to ask for the social worker/patient advocate.

3. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE; On-line screen to find a physician.

4. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE Look for "Physician Finder" search box. They will send a list of M.D.s for your state.I suggest using this source for several reasons: first, we have read several messages from people who, even seeing neurologists, are unhappy with the quality of care and ATTITUDES they have encountered; second, the clinical director of the Jefferson (Philadelphia) Headache Clinic said, in late 1999, that upwards of 40%+ of U.S. doctors have poor training in treating headache and/or hold attitudes about headache ("hysterical female disorder") which block them from sympathetic and effective work with the patient; third, it's necessary to find a doctor who has experience, skill, and a set of attitudes which give hope of success. This is the best method I know of to find such a physician.

5. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE NEW certification program for "Headache Medicine" by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, an independent, non-profit, professional medical organization.
        Since this is a new program, the initial listing is limited and so it should be checked each time you have an interest in locating a headache doctor.
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If you have problems using this infomation finding a specialist, call a large hospial, ask for "social service", and ask them for some help.

Hi Zack
A couple of things that might help with the injections. First, try to keep getting them even when you are not in cycle.  If you can stockpile a few you will be better prepaired when the next cycle starts, and if you have to pay it helps to spread the cost.
Secondly, there is a tab on the left of your screen called "imitrex tip". It shows you how to split the injections so you get 2 doses from one injection. Most of us find that 3mg is enough to abort a bad CH.  I don't know if you've used the injections at all yet.  The damn things go off like a nail gun but don't let that put you off.  It's still far preferable to a CH.  However if you split them it's much gentler. I got some syringes (the type diabetics use) and discharge the injection into there, and then just use half. I find it much easier that way.

You are so right about this site.  The folks here are the best friends I've ever had ( been privaliged enough to meet a couple of them). We can't cure your CH, but we'll never fail to listen or more importantly, understand.

Keep coming back, and let us know how you're doing. And make sure you read the PM Batch has sent you. It's the Biz.
Maz.